Getting a smaller vehicle

[LandyMan]

Ok, so I did the opposite.

Sold my smaller car, and bought a Fortuner

The only reason I did it was because I now work from home and also needed an off-road capable car.
Our 2nd car is much more fuel efficient and is used 90% of the time.

Agreed, the Tuna eats diesel

So why did you buy a Tuna then?

 

[soulie]

If you spending R5000 per month on petrol cos you have a petrol heavy vehicle does it make sense to buy another smaller used vehicle that will cost you less than R5000 per month including petrol? Or am I missing something?

i do 700km per week at 14km/ltr ..minimum .5k is nothing for fuel

 

[The_MAC]

So why did you buy a Tuna then?

It was actually an opportunity that came around to buy from a family member, got it at a very good price.

In terms of off-road capability, I think that's a separate thread altogether

Let me rephrase, I needed something with good ground clearance..

 

[Ecko_1]

I made the move from a bigger SUV to a small hatch last year. Had a Rav 4 for 8 months. I was able to sell for what i paid for it so that didnt really factor in my decision. I opted to get a car that is suitable for 90% of my driving, rather than one that I have to pay up for for the odd 10% of my motoring needs.

The Rav - 4 has a 65L tank, which I got 350km out of on average. So full tank every 6 days. My Vivo GT has a 45 L tank that I get 550km out of on average. I am filling every 10 days on average.

The above numbers will probably be a bit better for most people as I drive a bit hard. First of the line and like to hear my loud exhaust. On an economy run granny driving i can squeeze 850km out of a tank in the Vivo. In the Rav 4 the Eco run was 550km.

 

[LandyMan]

It was actually an opportunity that came around to buy from a family member, got it at a very good price.

In terms of off-road capability, I think that's a separate thread altogether

Let me rephrase, I needed something with good ground clearance..

Just messing with you man

 

[rh1]

Its a Toyota Fortuner 2014 still have one year left to pay.

So that's what I'm thinking.. I might be paying a little extra every month (less than R1000) but getting another vehicle which I can eventually sell it if I need to at a later stage.

Good suggestion by @SauRoNZA and @The_MAC regarding an excel sheet to work things out

Run the numbers, then proceed if it makes sense. But if you do go ahead and saving on the fuel bill is the reason, make sure of the following:

> car must be light on fuel, otherwise what is the point
> easy to maintain/service
> cheap insurance

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

When I used to commute it was a tank a week for a 20km round trip + weekend driving. At today's petrol price that's R1,200 a tank. R5k a month is really just a bit higher than normal for the average commuter. It's more indicative of the petrol price then the vehicle itself...

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

First of the line and like to hear my loud exhaust.

On a Vivo?

 

[LandyMan]

On a Vivo?

I believe he is from Durban

 

[GMAN03]

I opted to get a car that is suitable for 90% of my driving, rather than one that I have to pay up for for the odd 10% of my motoring needs.

Exactly this. I've decided to rather drive a smaller car and rent what I need on the odd occasion that it's not sufficient. Brings down my insurance cost as well as my fuel bill. Unfortunately cars are not always an objective purchase and I understand why some people take subjective criteria into their choices as I sometimes do miss a bigger car, even when it is only me with no luggage.

 

[Ecko_1]

I believe he is from Durban

Correct. Aftermarket downpipe and exhaust system to make it noisy

 

[marco79]

I have this same predicament at the moment. I'm spending close to R6k on diesel with my 2000 3.2 litre Pajero. Only driving 2500km per month. I bought the car cash earlier this year.

I'm considering selling and buying something much more fuel efficient. Maybe a i20 or a Polo. Maybe put down the Pajeros money as a deposit and have a monthly payment of R2k and fuel bill of R4k per month.

But for now I'm holding as the sums are equal. And we prefer the bigger vehicle for leisure purposes. Weekends and grocery runs I drive the SOs i10.

 

[cueball]

Its a Toyota Fortuner 2014 still have one year left to pay.

This is rather important IMHO. In a year from now your monthly instalment becomes R0. Buy another car now and it will be significantly more than R0 for quite some time to come. It takes a hell of a lot of driving to make up that difference. Unless you're bothered by the age and you planned to sell it soonish anyway. But its a Toyota, love 'em or hate 'em there's no denying its going to last a long time if you treat it right.